Football and memories

Little did one Salisbury resident know that a friendly game of football he started in his youth would turn into a tradition that has lasted for over half a century.

Nick Ampietro and his friends began playing football on Thanksgiving Day as young kids decades ago in Fountain Hill. Although the tradition has changed fields and added some different players over the years, it is still being played today.

“A bunch of us from Fountain Hill, we started playing every Thanksgiving,” Ampietro said. “We were all friends. We all grew up together. And we basically stared playing 52 years ago or something like that. We used to play on the Fountain Hill Little League field.”

After building a house on Susquehanna Street in Salisbury, Ampietro realized Laubach Park in Salisbury Township would be the perfect field to carry on the tradition. A short walk through his back yard and down the road would be the group’s new field.

That’s where last Thursday’s game was held, with a 12-on-12 touch-football game. Instead of people drifting away from the tradition, it has seemed to only grow stronger over the years.

“As the years went on, the group sort of grew,” Ampietro said. “A lot of us played rugby, and we picked up a couple of rugby players. And now our sons are starting to get involved. About seven of our sons are now playing. I’m hoping my son will sort of pick this position up when we can’t play anymore.”

His son, also named Nic, played and scored the game’s final touchdown on the last play to cement the 6-6 final score. It was a special moment for the Ampietros. While the game is definitely competitive, nothing beats the memories the group shares during and after each game on Thanksgiving.

Following the two-hour football game, the group returns to Ampietro’s house for a Thanksgiving meal and drinks. And of course, sharing memories with one another is a yearly traditional as well.

“It was a fun and competitive game,” Ampietro said. “When you get that many guys on a field, it gets a little tough to score.

“It’s special. These are guys that I grew up with. Some of them I see quite often. Others I don’t see so often, but when you see them it’s like you’ve seen them yesterday.”

Ampietro used to call the group the Sunday before Thanksgiving to see who would still be showing up for the annual game. At one point a few years ago, he stopped calling and said the tradition would continue as long as people showed up.

“I said ‘If you want to show up, I’ll be here. The food and beer will be here. The field is down there and we’ll play,’” Ampietro said. “They keep showing up.”

Even with over two feet of snow one year when the Lehigh Valley was trounced with a snowstorm prior to Thanksgiving, the game still went on.

Now, with many of the guys in their 60s, Ampietro can’t help but think of the future and what it might look like. While he has no immediate thoughts of stopping the tradition right now, he hopes his son will one day carry on the tradition with some of his friends.

“I would love for him to be able to invite like Brad Vangeli, Troy Parton and Justin Aungst,” Ampietro said. “But then we would get overwhelmed with young guys. We might have to have separate teams.”

Only time will tell, but barring any unforeseen events, the group will be back at Laubach Park next Thanksgiving for its 53rd game.